Bare shelves at Market Basket has been a benefit to the state's agricultural industry.

Farmers' markets and farm stands have seen "a phenomenal increase in business," this summer, said Gail McWilliam Jellie, director of the state division of agricultural development.

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She said wholesalers as well have been busy meeting increased demand at Hannaford and other grocery stores that are feeling the pressure of the Market Basket debacle, with many workers refusing to work for the current regime which fired Arthur T. Demoulas.

The timing for New Hampshire farmers, however for this job action, could not be better.

This is the peak of the state's growing season for produce.

She said market data so far has not seen a spike in price, despite demand and farmers are seemingly keeping up with the higher than usual volume.

On Friday, Gov. Maggie Hassan will tour the Tilton Farmers' Market, one of the 70 farmer's markets in the state. In 1993, 12 farmers' markets were in the state.

Hassan will highlight the increase in agricultural interest and production and proclaim Aug. 3-9 Farmers' Market Week. She will also declare August, New Hampshire Eat Local Month.

Hassan will be joined by NH Commissioner of Agriculture Lorraine Merrill for the tour of the market at 2:30 p.m.

There will also be a signing ceremony for the new Farm-to-Plate law that was passed in the 2014 legislative session.

This law establishes state policy “to encourage and support local food producers."

It also includes farming, and fisheries, foraging, and aquaculture, agritourism, horticulture, orchard management, maple syrup production and the associated businesses.

The lead sponsors, Sen. Martha Fuller Clark and Rep. Tara Sad and others, plan to participate in the celebration and bill-signing ceremony. The event gets underway at 2:40 pm.

The Tilton Farmers’ Market operates on the property of the Tanger Outlet Center, Route 3, Exit 20 off I 93. The market hours are 3-7 p.m. every Friday, June 27- Sept. 26.

While the farmers' markets are in full swing for summer, another 30 winter farmers’ markets across the state go through the winter, operating from November through April. A few years ago, there were only a handful, Gail noted."The real growth right now is in the winter markets," she said.

Find more information about the scheduled activities and more about New Hampshire Eat Local Month at: http://nheatlocal.org/